Multiple draft wire drawing machine with stationary block



A ril 13, 1965 E. J. M ILVRIED, JR 3,177,690

MULTIPLE DRAFT WIRE DRAWING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY BLOCK Filed Nov. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r- Invasionl /8 IE 5 Edwm JMaIlvazzizahJai A ril 13, 1965- E. J. MGILVRIED, JR

MULTIPLE DRAFT WIRE DRAWING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY BLOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 6a Fig.5.

Fig 4 54 b4 /2 30 c I w 3 J2 so 82 I a Iawea'ziow v Edwin lllvlwfll'ecl, J3

April 13, 1965 E. J. M ILVRIED, JR 3,177,690

MULTIPLE DRAFT WIRE DRAWING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY BLOCK Filed Nov. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Edwm J. MalZvmieckJr.

United States Patent 3,177,690 MULTIPLE DRAFT WIRE DRAWlNG MACHWE WITH STATIONARY BLGCK Edwin J. Mcllvried, Jr., Medina, Ohio, assignor to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 246,335 6 Claims. (Cl. 72--66) This invention and application relate to the art of wire drawing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a multiple draft wire drawing machine which may operate continuously to produce very long lengths of wire.

In conventional multiple draft wire drawing machines, the dies are stationary, while the blocks that pull the wire through the successive dies rotate. The wire leaving the last die of the series of dies is wound up on the last block. Whenthe last block is full, the entire machine must be stopped so that the wire on the last block may be removed therefrom. Thus in a multiple draft wire drawing machine with rotating or live blocks, the machine must be periodically stopped to remove the accumulated wire. This is damaging to production.

In another type of wire drawing machine, a stationary or dead block is used. Here the wire is drawn through a die rotating about the dead block. The wire accumulating on the dead block is discharged therefrom con tinuously. Numerous means are available to receive the wire discharged from the dead block so that production may run continuously until the wire being fed to the rotating die is exhausted. However, it is well understood that it is impossible to put a succession of dead blocks and their accompanying rotating dies in series to produce multiple drafting on a single wire in the same manner in which multiple drafting of wire is accomplished through the use of the live rotating blocks and stationary dies.

In the present invention, a new and novel combination of dies and blocks is presented by which part of the drafting is done with stationary dies and live blocks and the final part of the drafting is done by a rotating die from which the finished wire is deposited on a dead block and removed therefrom in conventional manner.

In a preferred form of the invention, the wire drawing is accomplished by the use of one stationary die and one live block and by a rotating die and one dead block to produce a minimum of two drafts in a small and relativelysimple machine. In a modified form, additional drafts through the use of two or more stationary dies and associated live blocks may precede the' final drafting which is accomplished by the rotating die and the dead .block. a

The invention also includes mechanism designed to insure that the length of wire being fed to the dead block from the last live block will always be adequate to meet the demands of the dead block, thereby precluding'the development of such tension in the wire on its way to the rotating die that might cause breakage.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompaning drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine which accomplishes two drafts;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the machine looking from the left of FIG. 1;

, FIG; 3 is an end elevation of the machine looking from the right of FIG. 1;

t FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken 3,177,690 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 and live blocks prior to the last draft by the rotating die and dead block; and

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of FIG. 6 looking from the left.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the wire W is drawn through die 2 by the horizontal live block 4, after which it is carried by suitable mechanism to a rotating die 6, through which it is drawn and wound on horizontal dead block 8, from which it peels off to be collected on the frame 10. Since frame 10 can be periodically removed and a new collecting frame substituted therefor, it is obvious that wire can be drawn through the two dies 2 and 6 continuously without stopping the machine.

It might be noted here that a block in wire drawing machines is said to be a horizontal block when its axis is horizontal. In the conventional multiple draft machines, the blocks are vertical. The present machine, however, is not to be limited to horizontal blocks.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the drafting at the live block stage is increased from the single draft arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to three drafts; but the final drafting is always accomplished by the rotating die 6 at the dead block end of the machine.

The machine will now be explained in more detail, reference being made to that specie of the invention utilizing only the single die at the live block end of the machine.

A supporting structure 12 of sutficient strength and generally in the nature of a hollow sheet metal housing carries a motor 14 and a gear box and shaft support 16.

p The housing 12, which may rest on any suitable base 18,

includes a front wall 20 to which the motor 14 is secured in any convenient manner, as by a plurality of bolts and brackets 22 and 24. The coupled motor shaft 26 extends vertically therefrom, entering the lower wall of gear box 16. The gear box is bolted by bolts 30 to a vertical panel 28 which is an integral part of housing 12. The shaft 26 carries a worm 32 which meshes with a relatively large helical gear 34 which is mounted on and keyed to a shaft as. To dissipate heat, cooling fins 37 may be used on the gear box, if desired. Shaft 36 extends horizontally through the oppositely disposed vertical side walls of gear box 16 and is rotationally supported by bearings 38 and 40. Thus, when motor 14 is in operation, shaft 36 will revolve. The gearing is arranged so that shaft as, as viewed in FIG. 2, revolves counterclockwise.

On the left end of shaft 36 is mounted a block 4, which is in tl e form of a cylindrical drum flanged at its sides. The wire W, after passing through die 2, is wound for a few turns about block 4. It then leaves the top of block 4 to pass around a grooved sheave 42 whose axis 44 is set diagonally in a bracket 45 secured to the side wall of housing 12. The discharging lower edge of sheave 42 directs wire W to a second smaller sheave 46 whose vertical axis 47 is mounted on a supporting bracket 18. Both the die 2 and sheave 46 are provided with-adjusting means for correct positioning.

Shaft 36 is drilled axially to provide a. bore 5%) therethrough, and thisaxial opening is aligned with sheave 46 so that wire W leaving sheave 46 may pass directly into and through shaft 36.

On the righthand end of shaft 36, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, is secured an enlarged collar or hub 52 to which is aflixed a flyer in the form of a rigid circular plate .54 of suitable diameter and thickness. The hub 52, shaft 36, and a portion of plate 5 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, are cutaway at 55 and 56 to receive a grooved sheave 57 which is rotatably mounted on an axis 53 carried by adjacent portions of hub 52. p it t t On the outer face of plate 54 is a radially extending tube V tates.

60 having its lower end adjacent sheave 57. Two other sheaves 62 and 6d are suitably mounted in aligned but canted position on plate 54, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. Sheave 62 has one side aligned with the outer end of tube 619. Immediately below sheave 64 a die support 66 is fastened to the face of plate 54 and carries the die 6. I

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the wire W may leave bore 50 by passing around sheave 57, thence radially outward through tube 60, around sheaves 62 and 64, and through die 6. After a few turns around block 8, the wire W leaves the block and passes under and over a series of four grooved casting rolls 6%, 70, 72 and 74.

7 From these rolls, the wire W goes back to the dead block 8 to be further wrapped therearound as the plate 54 ro- The casting rolls serve to give final proper shape to each convolution.

Referring to FIG. 4, the method of mounting dead block 8 may be seen. The block is in the form of a slightly tapered circular drum having a flange 76 around its inner end and closed on its outer end by face plate 77. The face plate is rigidly secured on a short tubular shaft '73 which in turn is supported by two sets of bearings 86 and 82 carried by the outer end of shaft 36. It will be noticed that bearings 8t and 82 are tapered to prevent axial movement of shaft 78( The bearings 80 and 82 are secured against dislodgement by a nut 86 which in turn is covered by a plate 84 fastened on the end of shaft 78.

Dead block 8 is held against rotation by structure that also serves the additional function of carrying off and collecting the Wire as it is continuously dislodged from the outer side of the dead block by the new wire accumulating on the block adjacent flange 76. This structure can be seen best in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. To the outer side of face plate 77 of block 8 is welded, or otherwise secured in a slightly eccentric position, a ring 87. Ring 37 has rigidly fastened thereto four strong rods 88, 9t), 92 and 94. These rods extend away from face plate 77, paralleling the axis of shaft 36 for a short distance, after which they turn to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, to make connection with a ring 96 at positions 90 degrees apart. Thus rod 88 is secured to ring 96 at 8%; rod 90 is secured at 99; rod 92 at '92; and rod 94 at 24. These four rods and ring 96 collectively act as a lever arm attached to tthe dead block so that any tendency of the dead block 8 to rotate clockwise with shaft 36, as viewed in FIG. 3, maybe prevented by supporting the ring 96 against downward movement. Such downward movement of ring 96 is prevented by placing thereunder a wire collecting frame 98. The upper end of frame 9% is slightly larger thanring 96, the latter resting on the curved upper shoulders of the inverted U-shaped members that constitute the frame. These members at their lowerends are fastened to a base plate 1% which acts as the collect ing surface for the wire as it comes down the frame after having left the dead block. The general behavior of the.

7 live block t for a few turns. The number of turns must be sufficient for the wire to grip block'4 tightly enough so that rotation of block 4 will pull wire W steadily through die 2. 'Wire W then passes around sheave 42, 7

around sheave 46, and horizontally through the bore 50 in shaft 36. It next passes around sheave 57, which is mounted to rotate with shaft 36 and plate 54, and thence radially outward through tube 60; On leaving tube at the wire passes over sheaves 62 and 64 and thence through die 6, engaging dead block 8 for a few turns, through casting rolls 6%, 70, 7'2 and 74, and back onto dead block ti. .After the machine 1135913361) completely threaded'and the motor 14 put in operation, shaft 3 6, block 4 and plate 54 will rotate together. Plate 54, of course, carries with it as it rotates die 6 and the casting rolls 68, 70, 72 and 74. Thus wire W is continuously woundup on dead block 8 due to its relative movement with die 6. This is possible because wire is continually coming through hollow shaft as in sufficient quantity to meet the drawing requirements of die 6 Without unduly tensioning the wire between block 4 and die 6. With the size of the wire leaving dies 2 and 6 known, the relative diameters of blocks 4 and 3 can be calculated so that the amount of wire leaving block 4 will be just the right amount called for by die 6 as it is drawn therethrough by dead block 8. This, however, is a very close calculation, and therefore in order to insure against breakage of the wire through possible failure of block 4 to deliver wire at the rate required to die 6, in a preferred embodiment, the diameter of block 4 may be made slightly in excess of the theoretical required diameter. This results in wire W being delivered to die 6 slightly in excess of the requirement. Consequently, slack will develop in wire W between block 4 and die 6. When this slack occurs, there results a corresponding slight looseness of the few turns of wire around block 4 so that there is some small slippage of the wire on block 4. This causes the rate of wire leaving block 4 to be similarly reduced and the slack to die 6 is diminished. The slippage on block 4 will stop as soon as the slack has been reduced enough to tighten the turns on block 4. With wire W then tightened again on block 4, drawing of the wire through die 2 continues in normal manner until the next development of slack, when the above procedure is repeated. It will be understood that drawing of the wire through die 2 is continuous in spite of the slight slipping effect. All the'slipping does is to temporarily slow slightly the rate of drawing through the die 2. There is never any actual halt to the drawing operation and no sudden or jerky loads are imposed on any part of the machine.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the machine may run continuously to produce two drafts of the wire, one at die 2 and the other at die 6, and the finished wire convolutions falling on the collecting frame 98 may be removed periodically with a new empty'frar'ne '98 being substituted for the full frame. Of course, as

the full frame is removed, the wire will be severed and momentarily restrained from dropping by the operator until the new empty frame 98 is in position. In this way, continuous production is achieved in a multiple draft machine in which the final block'is a dead block.

As previously mentioned, additional drafts may be accomplished by'placing multiple live blocks on shaft 36 which cooperate with corresponding additional dies; This arrangement is shown in FIG. 6, in which block 4 is replaced by three blocks 102, 104 and 106, and the single die 2 is replaced by three dies 108, and 112; The

sheave 4-2 is similarly replaced by three sheaves 114,116

and a few turns around block 106 will suffice to pull the v wire through die 112. The diameters of blocks 102,104

and res are carefully calculated so that the increasing length of the wire after passing through each successive.

die will just match the increased circumference of each successive larger block. Again, however, in order to be sure that breakage will not occur, it is preferable that each block be a trifle larger than necessary to me et the requirements of each'succeeding die. Thus as any slack develops between the, blocks, there will be the slight slipping effect heretofore explained until the slack has been. taken up and the turns tightened. 1

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wire drawing machine comprising a fixed die, a rotating block for drawing wire through said fixed die, said rotating block mounted on a hollow rotatable shaft, a stationary block axially aligned with said rotating block and shaft, a second die affixed to a flyer on said hollow shaft and rotating about said stationary block to wind wire on the stationary block as the wire is drawn through the second die by its engagement with the stationary block, means for guiding wire from said rotating block to said rotating die comprising first and second sheaves at opposite ends of said shaft with their axes at right angles to said hollow shaft axis and their peripheries aligned with said hollow shaft axis, and at least one other sheave fixed to said flyer intermediate said second sheave and die, and means for carrying the wire as it is forced off said stationary block.

2. A wire drawing machine comprising a fixed die, a rotatable hollow shaft, a rotating block on one end of said shaft for drawing wire through said fixed die, a stationary block axially aligned with said rotating block and shaft, a second die mounted on a fiyer associated with said shaft and rotating about said stationary block to wind wire on the stationary block as the wire is drawn through the second die by its engagement with the stationary block, means for guiding wire from said rotating block to said rotating die comprising two sheaves between said rotating block and the entrance to said hollow shaft and at least two other sheaves between the other end of said hollow shaft and said second die, and means for carrying the wire as it is forced off said stationary block.

3. A wire drawing machine comprising a fixed die, a shaft, a block rotated by said shaft for drawing wire through said fixed die, a stationary block, a second die associated with said shaft and rotating about said stationary block to wind wire on the stationary block as the wire is drawn through the second die by its engagement with the stationary block, means for guiding wire from said rotating block to said rotating die, said guiding means comprising a bore through said shaft and first and second sheaves aligned with said bore, the first of said sheaves mounted on a fixed axis and the second of said sheaves mounted on an axis that is transverse to and rotates with said shaft and two other sheaves, one fixed laterally of said rotating block and having its periphery aligned with both said rotating block and said first sheave and the other of said two sheaves intermediate said second sheave and said second die and rotating about said stationary block with said second die.

4. A wire drawing machine comprising a fixed die, a horizontal rotating block for drawing wire through said fixed die, a horizontal tapered stationary block axially aligned with said rotating block, a second die, means for rotating said second die concentrically about said stationary block to wind wire on said stationary block as the wire is drawn throughsaid second die by its engagement with said secondary block, a common shaft on which are mounted both said rotating block and said second die whereby both rotate at the same r.p.m., said shaft being hollow and means for directing wire leaving said rotating block into said shaft in the direction of the shaft axis and means for directing said wire at the other end of said shaft in a radial direction for delivery to said second die, said dies and blocks so dimensioned that the footage of wire entering said second die is slightly less than the footage of wire leaving said rotating block, and means for collecting the wire as it is forced off said stationary block.

5. A Wire drawing machine comprising a fixed die and rotating block for drawing wire through. said fixed die, a flanged tapered stationary block, a flyer carrying an orbiting die traveling concentrically about said stationary block, means for delivering wire from said rotating block to said orbiting die, said means comprising a shaft with a bore therethrough, which shaft supports and rotates both said rotating block and said flyer and orbiting die, a first sheave which is aligned with said bore at the rotating block end of said shaft, a second sheave at the other end of said bore mounted on an axis transverse and fixed to said shaft, a third sheave on said flyer aligned with said second sheave and a fourth sheave on said flyer aligned with said third sheave and said orbiting die, said stationary block by its engagement with. the wire leaving said orbiting die acting to pull the wire through said orbiting die and to wind it thereon and simultaneously to deliver previously wound turns of wire to a collecting means.

6. A wire drawing machine comprising a tubular shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a block fixed to said shaft to rotate therewith, a fixed die aligned with said block whereby Wire may be drawn through said die by said block, a first sheave for delivering wire leaving said block to the said shaft in alignment with the axis of said shaft, a circular plate mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, a second sheave mounted on said shaft aligned with the shaft axis to rotate bodily with said shaft whereby wire passing through said shaft from said first sheave may be directed radially, third and fourth sheaves on said plate to receive the wire from said second sheave, a second die on the outer face of said plate aligned with said fourth sheave, a stationary block carried by said shaft beyond said plate, said stationary block acting to hold said wire to pull it through said second die as the second die rotates about the stationary block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,595 5/44 Bletso 205- 16 2,833,329 5/58 De Poy 205-20 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,026,718 3 5 8 Germany.

441,902 1/ 36 Great Britain. 474,446 10/37 Great Britain.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner. CHARLES W. LANHAM, Examiner. 

1. A WIRE DRAWING MACHINE COMPRISING A FIXED DIE, A ROTATING BLOCK FOR DRAWING WIRE THROUGH SAID FIXED DIE, SAID ROTATING BLOCK MOUNTED ON A HOLLOW ROTATABLE SHAFT, A STATIONARY BLOCK AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID ROTATING BLOCK AND SHAFT, A SECOND DIE AFFIXED TO A FLYER ON SAID HOLLOW SHAFT AND ROTATING ABOUT SAID STATIONARY BLOCK TO WIND WIRE ON THE STATIONARY BLOCK AS THE WIRE IS DRAWN THROUGH THE SECOND DIE BY ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STATIONARY BLOCK, MEANS FOR GUIDING WIRE FROM SAID ROTATING BLOCK TO SAID ROTATING DIE COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SHEAVES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHAFT WITH THEIR AXES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID HOLLOW SHAFT AXIS AND THEIR PERIPHERIES ALIGNED WITH SAID HALLOW SHAFT AXIS, AND AT LEAST ONE OTHER SHEAVE FIXED TO SAID FLYER INTERMEDIATE SAID SECOND SHEAVE AND DIE, AND MEANS FOR CARRYING THE WIRE AS IT IS FORCED OFF SAID STATIONARY BLOCK. 